Crossing Salisbury Plain avoiding red flags

Hi all
Has anybody here cycled across Salisbury Plain on the old Devizes-Salisbury road (now a byway) from near Urchfont to the Bustard Inn recently? It’s usually closed to the public for military firing, but I understand it’s open a few days per month when there is no firing. My question is: what was your best source of info for finding which days were “red flag” and which days were non-firing, ie which days the byway is deffo open to the public? I’ve checked the MOD sites but they’re a bit hazy. Any info much appreciated.
Cheers, DB.
[Before anyone starts shouting, this is for a long off-road adventure I’m planning for AFTER lockdown.]

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/salisbury-plain-training-area-spta-newsletter/salisbury-plain-training-area-spta-newsletter-february-2021

Yes, the above link is what you need and it’s known as Larkhill/Westdown Range. Be aware that the Bustard Inn hasn’t been a pub for yonks.

Thanks both. Appreciate the link. So if it says “Non-firing days on Larkhill/Westdown danger area 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28 Feb.”, does that mean the byway is open to the public on those days? (Covid – and change of military plans – permitting of course). Thanks also for the info on the Bustard Inn. Yes, it’s OK, I’m not expecting to stop for a pie and a pint 🙂 I got to the old pub early last year from the Larkhill side, when I was checking this route, but couldn’t continue that day because the red flags were flying. I’ve also covered the byways from the Bustard to Tilshead and from Gore Cross around the edge of the Plain to the Urchfont junction. I just want to ride the bit in the middle! Cheers.

Usually means they’re open, but phoning is always useful for a definitive answer.

As above. Usually yes, but never assume. Also, things can change at short notice, and if the range wardens say so, their word is law!

The route you’re suggesting is really enjoyable, there is a grade 2 listed old finger post sign which is a great bit of history.

As cfh says, they can change their minds on a whim; they are, after all, the MoD. There is a real sense of achievement to be had however, from correctly interpreting their confusing information AND getting there to find that they haven’t had a change of mind. This is a really useful number for a recorded message regarding what is open or not: 01980 674763.

I rode it on a Sunday last October. Seems it’s usually open at weekends but mostly shut during the week. Link to firing times here: here.
I did see some military vehicles but heard no gun fire.
The rocks are quite big on parts of it, 2.3″ just about enough.

If it is shut on the day you can follow the King Alred’s Way route round to Orcheston.

Thanks again everyone. Much appreciated. You’re right – finding and interpreting the MOD info was a bit of a challenge. And yes, agree, I’ll set off with plans to ride it, but if it’s shut, I’ll take one of the alternative routes that are open all the time. And yes, one of the reasons for going is to reach that historic signpost (it’s known as Drummer Boy Post); I have an interest in historic milestones etc, especially on byways and tracks that USED to be roads, which combines well with my off-road cycling.
Just need to wait for covid restrictions to end (as doing this route can’t be classed as ‘local’ for me) and I’m there.
For any fellow history nerds, there’s some info on the Drummer Boy POst here

That’s a good pic there @Anna and really shows the expanse of the Plain.

@drizabone thanks for that link and will take a read later. There are various memorials scattered around the Plain and there is a mile post on the Old Marlborough Road which is on the Eastern side in a prominent position.

Have come across an excellent website called “Hidden Wiltshire” and the two chaps involved (one’s a cyclist) are doing a regular podcast. It’s very much like a couple of mates chatting, on everything Wiltshire. Useful to have either an OS map open or the Wiltshire RoW map open to refer to whilst listening. The 3rd and 4th cover the Plain:

https://www.hiddenwiltshire.com/podcast

Their latest blog covers the River Wylye and the pics look stunning.

https://www.hiddenwiltshire.com/post/the-river-wylye

As folk above have said, the newsletter is a good start and then use the phone line but I have found that especially on weekdays certain sections aren’t always open when the recorded message says they are so a plan B is worthwhile. It’s a really nice ride over the that part of the Plain, so hope you enjoy it when you go.

Thanks cinnamon girl 🙂 thanks for the hidden wiltshire links as well, I love that people do things like this, will have a look.

drizabone – I didn’t know that! do you know why it’s called little drummer boy? Love your idea of seeking out milestones on historic roads. As cinnamon girls says, there is a great one on the east side of the plain that we found only a couple of weeks ago. Mr B and I have spent some time following the route of the old marlborough coach road where we can. Old roads are fascinating.

This is brilliant. I’ve added it my hit list! Can you give me a few more pointers on today’s line the old Salisbury-Marlborough coach road. I’ve searched for a map, but can find only little snippets on the Hidden Wiltshire site. much obliged

Would highly recommend the book “Ancient Trackways of Wessex” by H.W. Timperley & Edith Brill, it’s full of maps too but not of the Old Marlborough Road. Have cycled some of it, it starts at Old Sarum and runs for approximately 22 miles to Ram Alley, near Burbage. There’s 3 pages on it and am happy to scan and send to you.

Have cycled it from the Plain to past Everleigh but from what I can see it’s no longer marked on the map after Everleigh. This Eastern side of the Plain has firing and there are a number of ranges, there’s certainly one that operates on weekends.

This link may be useful, you can select the year of the map you want to look at and have the current map alongside:

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/swipe

Wiltshire RoW map:

https://wiltscouncil.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=43d5a86a545046b2b59fd7dd49d89d22

The latest Hidden Wiltshire podcast talks about King Alfred and his connection to the Deverills, it’s near the beginning.

More historical stuff that may be of interest – the MOD archaeologist did a Twitter tour of Salisbury Plain over 4 days, it was excellent. Here’s the thread which includes lots of pics but don’t think it’s all of it. Haven’t a clue whether there’s an easy way to locate old tweets!

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1247850575955361792.html

It’s interesting ref the East side of the Plain, I find it much less restrictive in terms of the track closures that you get on the west – larkhill, west down, imber side. West is ordnance and so they have to close it for safety I think, East is more vehicle and tank training and they don’t close the tracks so much. We were up there 2 weeks ago, watching herds of tanks scuttling around – but no closures. There are the bulford rifle ranges as cinnamon girl says, but their usage doesn’t seem to preclude cycling routes in the way that it does on the west. I love the East side, big wide open spaces, I get a real sense of freedom over there.

Ref the milestone marker, screen grabs below from the OS app. MS top left marks the milestone and on the other map I’ve marked it hopefully to make locating easier. For good measure, an excuse to post a photo of my bike on the east side, with all its lovely tracks and endless views 🙂

the East side of the Plain, I find it much less restrictive in terms of the track closures that you get on the west

Lived in Netheravon for a while. Out of the house, on to mile after mile of open country. I must have ridden every bit of every track out there over the years.

Rode across from Brigmerston to Tidworth and on to Ludgershall a while ago amid the heaviest tank activity I’ve seen for a while. Loads of them around the TVDTA.

The important thing about tanks (and APCs etc #NotATank) is that they ALWAYS have right of way. The good thing is that they’re bloody big noisy buggers so it’s not hard to spot them and get out of the way!

Guys, this is brilliant. I need to sit down and read the last few posts and look at the maps carefully.
Cinnamon girl, I’ve think I’ve got that book, but if I haven’t I’ll get back to you about the scan. Much appreciated.
Meanwhile, I found this pic of another old stone in the same area…

https://suerobinsonmeuk.wordpress.com/2017/09/05/the-robbers-stone/

The important thing about tanks (and APCs etc #NotATank) is that they ALWAYS have right of way

As illustrated by Kenny Everett and his imaginative approach to parking problems.

Great stuff, thanks @Anna-B and @cinnamon_girl

There’s also this one in Burbage (not sure how old it is):

@drizabone that’s really interesting! I know about the robbers stone, but couldn’t figure out why the photo in your link was so different to the one I have seen…. there are two! The one I know is right next to the A360 and not such a good pilgrimage as a result. It’s not far from Gore Cross though, so if you were cycling the perimeter track to Imber on an open today for example, you could do a quick diversion 🙂

@packs that’s a nice one too….must be on the old coach road and therefore needs exploring!

Hi gang. Just to inform anyone interested (and still following this post), with covid restrictions over, I finally went to do this route last Sunday. Did 25 miles on the road to get to Urchfont, puff puff up the hill onto the Plain, got to the top, expecting a nice run to The Bustard, and – imagine my surprise – the gate was CLOSED, with red flags flying. The MOD website said there was no firing on the Larkhill Range that day, but apparently the military plans had changed. Ah well. So I rode round the perimeter track down towards Rushall and back, then along to Gore Cross, and onwards past New Zealand Camp, eventually to Westbury White Horse. Lovely day for it, so no grumbles, but STILL need to go back and reach Drummer Boy Post.

We did exactly the same on Monday! Planned to cycle from the Bustard to the German Village/Copehill down. Looked at the SPTA part of the gov website, but only scrolled down to the foot of that page, where it does say that the plain is open. If you look at the top of the page though, which we didn’t, it says that operation wessex storm will cause lots of plain closures at the moment, and maybe for the next few months. Additional training activity due to not being able to go overseas to do this apparently.

It is pretty frustrating though, because why have the bit at the foot which details when they are firing and when they aren’t, only to be contradicted by a bit elsewhere?

Either way, I’m glad you could re-plan your route as you did, and glad you enjoyed your ride 🙂

Oh no, that’s disappointing but it does happen unfortunately. The views on the ridge are stunning pretty much from the A360 through to Westbury White Horse, it can get pretty windy up there too!

Drummer Boy Post will be waiting for you so just be patient.

@Anna – your ss really looks the business! Do agree with you regarding the Eastern side and its big open spaces, it’s full of archaeological sites too.

Thanks both. On the upside, I discovered a couple of old milestones…. Yes, it looks like the Plain may be closed for a while for extra military stuff that was originally planned to take place elsewhere. I saw a lot of army vehicles on Sunday, including some fully tooled-up Landrovers looking like something from Operation Desert Storm. So while we wait for the road from Urchfont to The Bustard to open, my next little challenge will be to ride around the entire perimeter path, which I think should be do-able in a day, and can be done any time – red flags or not.